Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

English Language II

• code 08852
• course 2
• term Semester 1
• type FB
• credits 6

Module: Humanities

Matter: Linguistic communication

Main language of instruction: English

Head instructor

Lda. Jean VILANOVA - jean@uic.es

Office hours

By appointment.

The aim of this programme is primarily to provide students with the skills and knowledge to practice and perform the linguistic tasks related to everyday life in English. Emphasis is given to the linguistic skills of speaking and writing using a communicative approach whilst short texts are also used to deepen their knowledge and understanding of language structures and use of new vocabulary.

The programme contains 3 elements that include class-based lessons, tutorials and self study. The teacher-led lessons focus on speaking and writing about personal experiences and opinions whilst the reading activities are based on various aspects of everyday contexts, culture and society. Tutorials will focus on student development and interpersonal skills and will include an evaluated group project. The final part being the self study or ‘distance learning’ element which primarily focuses on developing listening skills, consolidating grammar and increasing the autonomy of the learner with respect to learning a foreign language.

All three elements have been specifically designed to provide students with the skills, knowledge and resources that will increase their confidence in order to communicate effectively in English.

 Preferred mínimum global level is that of a B1+ before the start of the course

 Classroom:

To prepare and equip students with the necessary lexical and grammatical knowledge and understanding to become effective communicators in English in everyday personal and academic contexts.

To reinforce the receptive skills of reading and listening through practice, using a variety of stimuli and to facilitate the improvement of the productive skills of speaking and writing.

Tutorial:

To develop students’ interpersonal skills and ability to work with others in English.

Self Study:

To develop listening skills and familiarization with different accents and vocabulary relating to common situations and familiar matters, consolidate grammar usage and train students in how to learn a language independently using ICT and internet-based resources.

1. Knowledge of the English language (competency 2)

Non-linguistic competencies in English

2. To acquire the ability to learn autonomously (competency 30)

3. To be able to develop interpersonal relations (competency 16)

Students are expected to achieve or surpass one of the above competencies at a level B1/B1+.

Knowledge of the English language (competency 2)

Students will be able to:

Oral production

a. Carry out with reasonable fluency a straightforward description of one of a variety of subjects within his/her field of interest, presenting it as a linear sequence of points (B1*)

Spoken interaction

b. Communicate with some confidence on familiar routine and non-routine matters related to his/her interests and professional field. (B1.2)

Written production

c. Write straightforward connected texts on a range of familiar subjects within their field of interest, by linking a series of shorter discrete elements into a linear sequence (B1*)

Overall reading comprehension

d. Can read straightforward factual texts on subjects related to his/her field and interest with a satisfactory level of comprehension (B1*)

Listening as a member of a live audience

e. Can follow a lecture or talk within his/her own field, provided the subject is familiar and the presentation straightforward and clearly structured. (B1.2)

*Students already demonstrating linguistic skills at a level B1+ will be expected to work towards demonstrating these skills at a level B2 or above.

2. To demonstrate the ability to learn autonomously (competency 30)

3. To be able to develop abilities for interpersonal relations (competency 16)

 Topics:

Students will cover topics related to areas of geography, tourism and a variety of subjects on contemporary culture and cultural heritage.

Language knowledge:

Students will consolidate the use of present, past and future tenses including perfect and continuous aspects; hypothetical expressions; modal auxiliary verbs; indirect speech; passive structures and sentence patterns.

In order to develop the linguistic skills of the students (speaking, writing, reading and listening), a variety of classroom materials and range of activities will be employed using a communicative approach. At the same time, students will be expected to actively participate and use their newly acquired knowledge in pairs and small groups.

Emphasis will also be given to preparation for self-study using distance learning tools and internet materials, and this will form an essential part of the course, equipping and motivating students for the life-long learning of English.

Students are reminded that attendance and participation in class and continuous evaluation are fundamental to passing the course.

- Students who have not attended 80% of the subject in the first sitting do not have the right to take the final exam in that same sitting.

- Students with a final mark between 4 and 5 in the first sitting only have the right in the second sitting to make up the material that was failed or not handed in.

- Students with a mark that is less than a 4 in the first sitting will have to make up 100% of the subject in the second sitting by producing and defending a dossier before a tribunal and taking a final exam.

In all situations and in both sittings students must show a B2 level in English to pass the subject

Class-based materials provided by teacher.

Supplementary materials proved by teacher

Internet-based materials for self-study:

Student English File Resources